From UnitedHealthcare
Photo courtesy of Nappy on Unsplash
Amid some of the coldest months of the year, many of us will layer up with our heaviest coats, gloves, and blankets. The winter season also calls for us to layer up our immune systems by getting current on various vaccines, including for flu, COVID-19, RSV, shingles, and more.
The time to act is now, given the spread of flu in Pennsylvania just reached very high levels, according to UnitedHealthcare data. Tips to help protect yourself amid the winter season include:
- Get this year’s flu shot. While flu is most serious for older Americans and individuals with certain chronic conditions1, it can affect people of all ages. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and up, other than a few exceptions such as people with severe allergies or individuals who are immunocompromised. Data shows the flu vaccine reduces the risk of the illness by up to 60%2.
- Get this year’s COVID-19 shot. Like the flu, the coronavirus changes from year to year, which means the vaccine is reformulated annually to better target current strains. While almost 50% of the U.S. population received the flu vaccine in 20233, fewer (29%) got the COVID-19 shot. If you want protection from both, you can get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time, along with additional vaccinations4.
- Get vaccinated against RSV and shingles. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is another infectious disease that spreads this time of year and can lead to severe illness, especially for older adults and young children5. The CDC recommends vaccination against RSV for people 60 and older and babies and toddlers up to 2 years old. For people 50 and older, it’s important to also get the shingles vaccine, something that only 18% of Americans in that age group have done6. Shingles can cause large, red fluid-filled blisters and can result in long-term pain or even hearing or vision loss.
If you didn’t get vaccinated during the early fall, now is the time to get current.
Sources:
- 1 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, 2024, https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/flu-and-older-adults
- 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/benefits
- 3 Gallup, 2023, https://news.gallup.com/poll/547625/new-covid-shot-uptake-lagging-behind-annual-flu-shot-rates.aspx
- 4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/coadministration.html
- 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/causes
- 6 The Washington Post, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/09/24/shingles-nerve-pain-shingrix-vaccine
The post Spread of the Flu in PA Just Hit Very High: 3 Strategies to Help Protect Yourself Amid the Cold and Flu appeared first on BCTV.
Source: bctv